Dispenser closure cap-seal itself



May 24, 1960 P. CILIBERTI 2,937,795

. DISPENSER CLOSURE CAP SEAL ITSELF 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 24,1957 I NVEN TOR. P4540342! mama 2m May 24, 1960 P. CILIBERTI DISPENSERCLOSURE CAP SEAL ITSELF 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 24, 1957 1N VENTOR.aw/{x4 5x035??? DISPENSER CLOSURE CAP-SEAL ITSELF Pasquale Ciliberti, 45Men'ahan St., Brooklyn 21, N.Y.

Filed Apr. 24, 1957, Ser. No. 654,704

1 Claim. (Cl. 222-490) This invention relates to dispensing apparatusand more particularly to a dispensing closure for collapsible type fluidcontainers.

Various types of closuredevices have been provided for collapsible tubetype containers that are usually provided for dispensing creams, pastes,lotions and the like. Most of these closures, however, require the useof a removable member for opening the top of the tube, which membersoften become lost and misplaced, thereby giving rise to variousinconveniences and damage to the contents of the container.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a noveldispensing closure device for various types of collapsible containers inwhich the closure device is maintained in assembly with the containerand has pressure responsive means for automatically dispensing thecontents of the container through self contained valve means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dispensingclosure device in which a tip is provided with a plurality ofintersecting slits that define a predetermined quantity of flexiblesegments, which segments are adapted to spread apart in response to thebuild up of internal pressure within the container so as toautomatically dispense the contents therethrough and in response tocessation of such pressure, the segments automatically close so as toprevent further loss of the contents or contamination thereof.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide adispenser closure device that is simple in construction, eflicient inoperation, and which will overcome the aforementioned difficulties.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of thisinvention will become apparent (from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompany drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dispensing device made in accordancewith one form of the present invennon;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view, with parts broken away, of the device shown inFigure 1;

Figure 4 is a side view, with parts broken away, of a modified form ofthe present invention in operative use;

Figure 5 is an elevational view taken along line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a front elevational view of a still turther modified form ofthe present invention;

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the device shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view taken along line 8-8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 7, showing the closure device in anopen position;

Figure 10 is a side elevational view showing the manner in which thedevice shown in Figures 6 to 9 is operated;

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10, showing the parts in acompletely open position; and

States PatentO ice Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view, with partsbroken away, of a still further modified form of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to Figures 1 to 3thereof, a dispensing closure device 10 made in accordance with one formof the present invention is shown to include a collapsible tube 12 thathas conical closure membenll at the upper end thereof.

The apex of this member .11 is provided with a plurality of intersectingslits 14 that divide the tip into a plurality of individual flexiblequadrants 15. As is more clearly shown in Figure 3, the closure member11 is hollow so that upon exerting a pressure upon the tube 12, aninternal pressure is built up within the contents 16 thereof so as toforce the quadrants apart, thereby permittingthe egress of the fluidtherefrom.

In Figures 4 and 5, a modified form 20 of the present invention is shownwherein the closure member is in the form of a separate cap 21 that isintegrally secured to the outlet member 22 at a collapsible tube 23-.This cap 21 is also of conical shape and is provided with a plurality ofintersecting slits 24 at its apex. These slits divide the apex of thecap 21 into a plurality of separate flexible quadrants 25. Thus, uponthe pressure exerted upon the tube 23, the contents thereof areoperative to urge the flexible quadrants 25 apart so that the toothpaste26 is expelled therefrom and may be applied to a brush 27 withoutremoving any separate closure member. Upon release of the squeezingpressure upon the tube, the quadrants will return to their normallyclosed position, thereby cutting off the continued flow of fluidtherefrom.

In Figures 6 to 11, a still further modified form 30 of the presentinvention is shown wherein the closure member is a combination of twoelements. A sleeve 31 of hollow cylindrical con-figuration is secured tothe outlet member 32 of the collapsible tube 34. A separate closuremember 36 having a hollow cylindrical lower portion and a conical upperportion is slidably supported upon the sleeve 31. The conical portion ofthe member 36 is provided with a plurality of intersecting slits 37 thatdivide that end into a plurality of individual flexible sections 38.This arrangement may be operated in the manner hereinbefore described inconnection with Figures 1 to 5, but may, if desired, be manuallyoperated in the manner shown in Figures 10 and 11. By exerting adownward pull upon the closure member 36, the upper end of the sleeve 31is operative to urge the sections 38 apart so that the contents of thetube may be poured or otherwise ejected therefrom without having tofirst build up the necessary pressure to force the sections 38 apart.Upon dispensing the desired amount of material, the closure member 36may be raised from the lowered position 36a to the upper closed positionas shown in Figure 6, whereupon the tube 34 is automatically sealed.Because of the resiliency of the material from which the closure member36 is constructed, the sections 38 readily move between the closedposition and the" open position 38a.

In Figure 12, a still further modified form 40 of the present inventionis shown that is quite similar to the embodiment described in connectionwith Figures 6 to.

11. However, in this arrangement, the sleeve 41 is provided with anexternal helical thread 43 that is adapted to cooperate with a matchinginternal thread 44 on the closure member 46. The upper end of theclosure member 46 is also of conical configuration and is provided witha plurality of intersecting slits 47 that divide that end of the memberinto a plurality of substantially equal flexible sections 48. Thus, thesleeve 41 may be applied to the outlet member of a collapsible containerin the aforementioned manner. Then, by rotating the closure member 46relative to the sleeve 41, the upper end of the sleeve 41 is operativeto engage the inside surfaces of the sections 48 to spread them apart ina manner similar to that shown in Figures and 11. However, because ofthe threaded engagement of the parts, the threads provide a mechanicaladvantage for spreading the sections apart during the rotationalmovement of the closure member 46, rather than having to exert asufficient downward force upon the closure member to obtain this result.

It will be recognizedthat any type of flexible material may be used forconstructing the aforementioned embodiments of this invention. However,it has been found that various types of plastic material areparticularly suited to this construction and provide a device that iseasy to manufacture, and extremely low in cost. Because of the selfsealing action of this device, the contents within the container are notexposed to the atmosphere any longer than necessary, thereby providingfor a sanitary and efficient assembly.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to theconstruction shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such isnot to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, whichis best defined by the claim appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

A dispenser closure device for collapsible containers having fluidmaterial stored therewithin, comprising, in combination, a flexibleoutlet member having a hollow conical tip open at one end, a pluralityof intersecting slit lines extending across the apex of the opposite endof said tip and defining a plurality of flexible arcuate segments, allof said segments being of substantially identical size and shape withthe outermost portions of said segments defining said apex beingdeformable between a normally closed relationship in engagement with thesides of each other and an open spaced apart relationship for permittingthe pasage of a fluid mass therethrough in response to the establishmentof an internal pressure forcing said segments apart, said containerbeing provided with an outlet extension supporting said outlet memberthereon, and said one end of said flexible member comprising a baseslidably receiving said outlet extension therewithin, whereby the manualsqueezing of said container is operative to pressurize the masscontained therewithin, and to establish said internal pressure to deformsaid segments into said open spaced relationship and to force saidmaterial outwardly through said opposite end of said tip through saidintersecting slit means extending across said apex thereof upon movementof said arcuate outermost portions of said segments to said open spacedrelationship.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,607,993 Loewy Nov. 23, 1926 1,650,966 Smith Nov. 29, 1927 1,973,459Anderson Sept. 11, 1934 1,977,227 Berendt Oct. 16, 1934 2,516,040Zumdahl July 18, 1950 2,679,954 Barnes June 1, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS636,486 France Jan. 12, 1928 464,834 Italy July 23, 1951

